Urinary Incontinence and Its Impact on the Sex Life of Women in the Tacna Region, 2024

BACKGROUND Urinary incontinence (UI) is a prevalent medical condition that significantly affects physical, emotional, social, and sexual health, especially in women. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of UI on the sexual life of women in the Tacna region during 2024, providing evidence to a relatively underexplored dimension of women’s health. Its contribution lies in improving the understanding of the effects of UI on female intimacy and developing information that can guide more comprehensive care strategies adapted to their needs. METHODS A quantitative, non-experimental, correlational cross-sectional approach was adopted. The final sample consisted of 193 women, selected from a total of 292, who met the inclusion criteria, including being over 18 years of age and having a partner. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire that addressed sociodemographic aspects related to sexual function. Data was analyzed using SPSS software version 27.0, and the Chi-square test was used to evaluate the relationships between variables, with a significance level of p < 0.05. RESULTS Results showed that most of the participants were between 30 and 59 years old (82.9%) and technically educated (50.3%). Regarding sexual function, 35.2% reported dyspareunia, and 35.8% had pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Sexual frequency revealed that 39.9% had sex twice a week, and 72% reported mild lubrication. Significant differences were found between women with and without dyspareunia; those without dyspareunia revealed higher levels of desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and sexual pleasure. CONCLUSIONS UI hurts women’s sexual well-being, significantly affecting the experience of pleasure and disrupting multiple phases of the sexual response cycle, particularly desire, arousal, and orgasm. Additionally, impairment in vaginal lubrication was observed. These effects are exacerbated in a context where dyspareunia plays a central role, underscoring the multifaceted nature of UI’s impact on sexual health.